Canada faces Nigeria on heels of 1-0 win over England

Canada Soccer’s Women’s National Team continues its FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019™ preparations with a match against reigning CAF champions Nigeria on Monday, 8 April at 16:00 local (10:00 ET, 07:00 PT) at Pinatar Stadium in Murcia, Spain LIVE via CanadaSoccer.com. Canada’s sixth International Friendly of 2019 comes after Canada’s 1-0 win over England, third in FIFA’s World Rankings, on 5 April in Manchester, England. Canada remains undefeated at 3-0-2 so far this year with five clean sheets.

“I think we had a great all-around team performance against England and we were excited to get the win,” said Centre back Shelina Zadorsky. “I think Nigeria will be a fast team and they will be hardworking and aggressive so we will have to keep the mentality to fight for every ball and be the first to it, and then hopefully put some goals away.”

The late edition of Nigeria to Canada’s April International break match schedule is a welcome development for the team and coaching staff as Canada prepares to face Cameroon in their opening match of the FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019™. Canada has never met Cameroon in competitive action, so getting some experience now against strong African opponents will be vital in preparing for the critical match on 10 June in Montpellier, France.

“Like Nigeria, Cameroon is very athletic and front-footed, and they can have some attacking flair, so I think we will have to be very organised defensively against African opponents and be able to get numbers forward quickly,” added Zadorsky.

Canada has not beaten Nigeria in the team’s two previous encounters – both International Friendlies. Nigeria defeated Canada 1:0 in 2011 at Rudolf-Harbig Stadium in Dresden, Germany and the teams tied 3:3 in 1995 at Olympia Stadium in Helsingborg, Sweden. Christine Sinclair, Desiree Scott and Sophie Schmidt are the only Canadian players on Friday’s roster who have seen action against Nigeria in the past.

“This is another chance for us to rehearse before the (FIFA Women’s) World Cup and another good game to play,” said midfielder Jessie Fleming. “Nigeria is an athletic team, a fast team, so it gives a good opportunity to prepare to head into the (FIFA Women’s) World Cup. Going into the game we are sticking to our game plan, coming off a good performance against England, having gained a little bit of confidence from that, we hope to carry that over into our next match.”

Nigeria has qualified for every edition of the FIFA Women’s World cup and is also preparing for France 2019, where they will face Norway, Korea Republic and hosts France in Group A.

Canada Soccer Send-Off Home Match
Canadians will have an opportunity to see Canada Soccer’s Women’s National Team at home before the FIFA Women’s World Cup when they play a “Send-Off” match against Mexico in Toronto at BMO Field on 18 May at 13:00 ET/10:00 PT.  To catch Canada Soccer’s Women’s National Team at home before they head to France, visit migmultidev-canada-soccer.pantheonsite.io/tickets for full information.
 
FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019™ Group Stage
Canada will launch their FIFA Women’s World Cup campaign against Cameroon on Monday 10 June at Stade de la Mosson in Montpellier, France. Canada will then travel to Grenoble for their second group stage match on Saturday 15 June against New Zealand at Stade des alpes. Canada then concludes the group phase in Reims on Thursday 20 June with a match against the Netherlands at Stade August-Velaune.
 
Be part of the journey to France 2019 by following Canada Soccer’s Women’s National Team on and off the pitch on Canada Soccer’s website, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
 
Canada Soccer’s Women’s National Team
Canada Soccer’s Women’s National Team made history with back-to-back podium finishes at the London 2012 and Rio 2016 Olympic Games, becoming the first Canadian team to win back-to-back Summer Olympic medals since 1908, and the first-ever women’s Canadian team to return to the podium.  
 
At the last three major women’s tournaments, Canada finished third at the London 2012 Women’s Olympic Football Tournament, sixth at the FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015™, and third at the Rio 2016 Women’s Olympic Football Tournament.
About Canada Soccer
Canada Soccer, in partnership with its membership and its partners, provides leadership in the pursuit of excellence in soccer, both at the national and international levels. Canada Soccer not only strives to lead Canada to victory but also encourages Canadians to a life-long passion for soccer. For more details on Canada Soccer, visit the official website at migmultidev-canada-soccer.pantheonsite.io
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